kropotkindersurprise:
kropotkindersurprise:
The 43 group was a Jewish antifascist group in England, consisting for a large part of people who had served in the war against Nazi Germany, only to find that fascism was alive and well in their own country when they came back home. These are some of the people who helped destroy Mosley’s Union Movement in the 1940′s. From this amazing [documentary]
No platform for Fascists! Not in the 1940′s, not in 2017!
The 43 Group The Unfinished War
60,000 British Jews fought in World War II. Every year, one week after the Rememberance Sunday march, Jewish ex-servicemen and women hold their own memorial service at the Cenotaph. For some of these marchers the fight against fascism continued in London after the war.
Rabbi Leslie Hardman was present at the liberation of Belsen.
‘We took an oath there, as I was burying the people. I said to myself: “Never again”’
How did you feel when you saw fascism on the streets of post-war London?
‘If the Nazis had won the war, the English fascists would have been the people knocking on our door and taking us away.’
‘This we decided: “We have got to do something about it.” And we did.’
‘We said: “Right, noones going to stop them… So we’ll bloody well stop them.”’
‘We decided to form an organisation, and launch an all-out, non-stop attack on the emerging fascist party. Our aim and object was to expose it… And then to destroy it.’
The 43 group fights fascism today.
By late 1946, there were at least 40 fascist meetings a week taking place in London
’“Up with Mosley!” “Kill all the yids!” And this was provocation, so we used to go towards the platform. And we never walked towards fascists, we ran at them.’
‘Hit them hard, wherever we could. Really hit them hard.’
‘That was how we worked: Destroy their meetings and not give them a chance to spout their filth.’
BRIGHTON
‘There was supposed to be this really big fascist march, and when we got there, there was one policeman.’
‘That was a fantastic day, that was.’
‘So we had the opportunity to attack them, without them having any police protection.’
‘We virtually destroyed them that day. I don’t think they ever recovered from that.’
What was the best thing about being in the group?
‘Fighting for a purpose.’
‘The 43 Group, without any question of doubt, were mainly responsible for the destruction of Mosley and his group.’
‘I’m not sorry for what I did. On the contrary, I am very pleased with it. Because somebody had to do it.’
🍓🧀 (archive) 